(LAFAYETTE) - Flags at Lafayette city buildings are at half staff to mark the passing of former mayor Jim Riehle.

Riehle died yesterday at 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 76.

In six terms as mayor from 1971 to 1995, Riehle galvanized improvements to downtown Lafayette, winning funding to move railroad tracks to a corridor along the Wabash River so cars could move more smoothly.

He's credited with persuading others to enter politics, including current mayor Tony Roswarski.